Various Artists - Tumbélé: Biguine, Afro & Latin Sounds From The French Caribbean, 1963-74 (Soundway Records)

'Tumbélé: Biguine, Afro & Latin Sounds From The French Caribbean, 1963-74' takes the listener to the French West Indies (Guadeloupe and Martinique), where in the sixties and early seventies of the last century, tumbélé reigned supreme.

Zeep - People & Things (Crammed Discs)

Zeep is a joint effort of Nina Miranda, who previously sang for English band Smoke City, and Chris Frank, known from Da Lata and that same Smoke City.

Los Impagaos - No Lo Intenten En Casa (Ventilador Music)

Nice album cover, but, as yet another offering from the ever expanding musica mestiza family, Los Impagaos ("the unpaid") remain somewhat in the shadow of their bigger brothers and sisters.

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - I Speak Fula (Out Here Records)

If you know the ngoni was traditionally only used in a seated position, you can imagine the reactions of the Malian crowd when Bassekou Kouyate decided to play his solo standing up one day, hereby taking a central position on stage.

Mahala Raï Banda - Ghetto Blasters (Asphalt Tango Records)

When Mahala Raï Banda presented its eponymous debut album, a musical experiment for which violinist Aurel Ionita united the instruments of the taraf with that of the brass bands, to the world back in 2004, it became an instant hit.

Katzenjammer - Le Pop (Nettwerk)

The award for the most original band name this month goes to the Norwegian girls quartet Katzenjammer (German for "cat's wail").

Kimi Djabate - Karam (Cumbancha)

Yours truly is constantly on the lookout for fun novelties in world music and the Cumbancha label now lends us a hand with their sub-label Cumbancha Discovery meant to offer a platform to "exceptional emerging talents in international music".

Kasba - Darna (LC Music) + Marockin' Brass & Luc Mishalle - Zazzat (Met-X)

This month two Maghrebi-inspired albums landed in our mailbox almost simultaneously and remarkably enough both are efforts by Benelux-based bands.

Lariba - Como Lo Ves (Ventilador Music)

Lariba is a seven-man band operating out of Zürich in Switzerland and describing their music as "fresh urban Latin music" with each band member adding his own elements to the mix.

Various Artists - Polska Rootz (Eastblok Music)

The Eastblok label already surprised us on previous occasions, but their latest production is really a curiosity.

Becaye Aw - Sibi (Etnisk Musikklubb)

Even in the cold north people are gradually warming to the sounds from West-Africa and the release of Becaye Aw's debut album 'Sibi' on the Norwegian Etnisk Musikklub label is proof of that.

La Pegatina - Via Mandarina + Zulu 9.30 - Huellas (Kasba Music)

You only have to take a look at the cover of 'Via Mandarina' to know this is a mestizo album.

Staff Benda Bilili - Très Très Fort (Crammed Discs)

One can wonder where he keeps finding them, because after previously having surprised us with Konono N°1 and Kasaï Allstars, Vincent Kenis now introduces us to Staff Benda Bilili.

Bossacucanova - Ao Vivo (Crammed Discs)

What Gotan Project did for nuevo tango, Bossacucanova does for bossa nova, mixing the genre with modern electronics, jazz and soul.

Kasai Allstars - In The 7th Moon, The Chief Turned Into A Swimming Fish And Ate The Head Of His Enemy By Magic (Crammed Discs)

The music of Kasai Allstars is somewhere akin to that of Konono N°1, but in yours truly's humble opinion, the use of the likembe (thumb piano) is just about all both bands have in common.

Oi Va Voi - Travelling The Face Of The Globe (Oi Va Voi Recordings/V2)

With their mix of Eastern European sounds and Western pop, London Oi Va Voi guarantees a solid live show.

Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara - Tell No Lies (Real World Records)

'Soul Science', last year's debut effort by Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara, released on the Wayward Records label, must also have impressed the heads at Real World Records, as successor 'Tell No Lies' appears under the auspices of the jubilating label.

La Minor - Oboroty (Eastblok Music)

La Minor was founded in Saint Petersburg back in 2000 by Slava Shalygin, Alexander Yezhov and Pyotr Ketlinsky, but stylistically is rather at home in Odessa, the main port in Ukraine and a melting pot of nationalities.

Pablo Milanés & Chucho Valdés - Mas Alla De Todo (Wrasse Records)

Pablo Milanés (Cuban singer and poet, played an important role in the development of the Cuban Nueva Trova, along with Silvio Rodríguez and Noel Nicola) and Chucho Valdés (Cuban pianist, orchestra conductor and composer, who founded the famous Cuban band Irakere) have been friends for years, but thus far that never resulted in a creative collaboration.

Various Artists - Paranda (Cumbancha/Stonetree Records)

'Paranda' actually dates from 2000, but is now for the first time distributed in the Benelux thanks to Xango Music Distribution.